Prime Time

They've saved prime time - 10pm on - when the alphabet networks pick up coverage - for Michelle Obama. This is important - they want to introduce her as Donna Reed to Americans who haven't met her yet. They want to make it harder to pin an anti-American label on her.

Here's part of the email that went out under Michelle's name today:

This week, folks from across the country will get to know Barack and our family a little better. Tonight I'm giving a speech at the convention, and I'm planning to share a few stories about the Barack I know -- the husband, the father, and the man who shares my dreams for our girls, for this country, and for our future.

Before my speech, we're also going to show a video introducing our family to families across the country. Make sure to turn on your TV at 10:30 p.m. EDT (8:30 p.m. MDT) to see it, or you can watch it at www.BarackObama.com.

Michelle will be preceded by a film. This is like 7th grade with all the film strips.

Hillary's name is being put into nomination, and some delegates will get a chance to vote for her, but then the vote will be stopped, perhaps by Hillary, and a request will be made that Barack be declared the nominee by acclamation. This is the plan to avoid embarrassment.

But at 10pm it's not Michelle, it's former Rep. Jim Leach, a Republican who has endorsed Barack. He's a terrible speaker, and the networks are ignoring him. ABC is showing Teddy, but the other networks are doing recaps.

The pundits seem happy with the Kennedy moment, saying this is what got the convention on track, that Kennedy gave things a starting point. But they're at the convention - and when you're at TV events, you don't get to see how it plays on TV.

Chuck Todd, NBC political director, said there's a lot of glossing over tonight, referring to the Clinton/Obama conflict. Here are the two big Democratic families, he adds, handing over the keys to the party to Obama. One eagerly, one reluctantly.

Caroline is on a panel on ABC. Stephanopolous, Diane Sawyer, Charlie Gibson are sucking up on Kennedy drama. It's amazing that Ted was here, says Caroline. Diane - how does he inspire the family, she wants to know. Does he sit family members down individually? No, he leads by example. My children, says Caroline, were inspired by him tonight. Pathetic to think that these used to be news organizations.

CBS is using Katie Couric. She's interviewing Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who would have made a good VP choice. Americans just need to get to know Michelle, she says. They'll find her to be a wonderful inspiration as first lady. Ugh.

On CNN, they're asking Donna Brazille why Claire McCaskill is giving a speech during prime time. Isn't this an expensive favor to be giving her, they want to know, to let her speak in prime time?

Conventional Sabotage?

Will Hillary, in an act of sabotage, force herself on Barack's convention?

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told a gathering of supporters last week that she's looking for a "strategy" for her delegates to have their voices heard and "respected" at the Democratic National Convention where Sen. Barack Obama is expected to be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Why would she do such a thing?

"I happen to believe that we will come out stronger if people feel that their
voices were heard and their views were respected. I think that is a very big
part of how we actually come out unified," Clinton, D-N.Y., said at a California
fundraiser last Thursday, in a video clip captured by an
attendee and posted on YouTube.

It seems there is an emotional chord that is stronger than anticipated in those Democrats who remain angry over Hillary being deposed by Barack.

"Because I know from just what I'm hearing, that there's incredible pent up
desire. And I think that people want to feel like, 'OK, it's a catharsis, we're
here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Sen. Obama.' That is what most
people believe is the best way to go," she said.

While Hillary hasn't done the paperwork necessary to wage such a challenge, her people say they're still working out their plans.

"No decisions have been made. And so we are trying to work all this through with
the DNC and with the Obama campaign."